Awning structure



H. C. WELLS AWNING STRUCTURE Nov. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-5heet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 Harry 6. Wells INI ENTOK.

Nov. 22, 1966 H. c, WELLS AWNING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 IN VEZJTOR.

Harry 6. Wells Fig. 3

Nov. 22, 1966 H. c. WELLS AWNING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 19, 1963 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 Fig.7

s zso Harry 6. Wells O 4 BY M United States Patent 3,286,413 AWNING STRUCTURE Harry C. Wells, Hialeah, Fla, assignor to Harry Reckson, Miami Beach, Fla. Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,742 17 Claims. (Cl. 52-16) This invention primarily relates to building structures, particularly to an improved construction of an awning, marquee or patio cover of a type generally used to protect windows, doorways or patios from excessive sun, rain or other elements.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an awning structure which may be easily and efliciently constructed without the aid or use of transverse or horizontal purlins, beams or the like. The free span is achieved by the use of structural I-beam shapes so designed as to support the necessary loads and to also serve as tying elements to hold a plurality of roof panels together, which assembly forms the main portion of the awning structure.

A still more specific object of this invention resides in the construction of an awning structure from a plurality of adjacently positioned roof panels which terminate in opposite transversely extending horizontal flanges. Tying I-beams are formed with their top flanges bent back beneath themselves to provide each I-beam with a pair of channels disposed under its top flange and opening toward each other and separated by the web of said beam. The web of said beam may then be positioned between adjacent roof panels and the oppositely extending horizontal flanges of said roof panels may be received within said channels forming a composite roof structure for the awning.

Another feature of this invention resides in the specific construction of the Lbeam tying elements which may be formed with an elongated groove cut in the bottom flange thereof whereby a ceiling can be secured to the bottom of said roof panels and the bottom flanges of said I-beams by means of self-tapping fasteners threaded into the grooves cut in the bottom edge flanges of said I-beams. Furthermore, the bottom flanges of said I-beams may be positioned in coplanar relation between the adjacent roof panels whereby the ceiling may be placed flush up against the bottom of the roof panel-s and lower flanges of said Lbeams thereby providing an awning structure having a pleasing appearance and providing a superior insulation from the weather.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the specific mounting of the roof panels and tying I-beams between a pair of mounting brackets, one of said brackets being secured to a vertical building wall or other vertical support surface whereas the other may be secured to a pair of spaced posts. The bracket which extends between the pair of spaced posts is specifically formed with an integral trough portion to be used as a rain gutter and which further includes means for hinging a fascia thereto. Due to the hinge construction of the gutter and fascia, the gutter may be easily cleaned by removal of trash, debris and the like without removal of the roof. Further, in view of the pivotal action of the fascia, access may be easily gained to erect the awning roof without the aid of the usual scaffold.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a depending projection on said fascia which is adapted to abut the face of the roof element of the awning structure and which aids to line up the fascia and roof elements directly before fastening the same into place.

A still further object of this invention resides in the construction of an awning, the finished product of which has a pleasing appearance, is made relatively simple to construct, which uses a minimum number of components thereby reducing the cost of fabrication of the awning and thus rendering the awning readily adaptable for commercial production.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the awning structure comprising the subject matter of the instant invention shown completely fabricated and attached to a building wall, certain portions of the structure being broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIGURE 1, parts being broken away and illustrating the mounting of the awning structure as well as the trough and hinged fascia with an alternative position of the latter being shown in dash lines;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the broken section line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the section line 5--5 of FIGURE 2 and illustrates the securement of one of the mounting brackets for the awning components between a pair of vertical posts;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view t gh one of the tying I-beams and illustrates the tied joint between adjacent roof panels and the manner in which a ceiling member can be secured to the awning structure;

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 but illustrating a slightly modified form of tying I-beam; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but illustrating the manner of suspending a ceiling from one of the tying Lbeams.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, an awning structure generally designated by the numeral 10 is adapted to be supported between a vertical building wall such as 12 and a pair of spaced ornamental columns or posts such as 14 and 16.

The awning structure is generally fabricated from a plurality of roof panels such as indicated at 18 which are substantially U-shaped and include a bottom surface 20 and a pair of vertically extending side walls 22 and 24 which terminate in oppositely facing and inwardly extending horizontal flanges 26 and 28. The side walls 22 and 24 of the roof panel 18 are angularly offset as generally indicated by the numeral 30 for the purpose which will be hereinafter described. Each of the roofing panels is adapted to be disposed in parallel relation to each other and are tied together by a specially constructed I-beam generally indicated by the numeral 32. With specific reference to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that the I-beam 32 comprises a top flange 34, a bottom flange 36, said flanges being connected by means of a web 38. The top flange 34 of the I-beam 32 is bent back under itself to vform a pair of channels 40 and 42 opening toward each other and separated by the web of said I-beam. Oppositely facing surfaces of said channels 40, 42 include projections such as 44 and 46.

The I-beam 32 is so positioned that the web 38 is placed between a pair of adjacent roof panels 18 and the op positely extending horizontal flanges 26 and 2-8 of adjacent roof panels are received within the channels 42, 40, respectively. The lower flange 36 of the I-beam 32 is positioned between and coplanar with the bottom of the adjacent roofing panels 18 in a space formed by the angular orientation of the portions 30 of the side Walls 24 and 22 of the adjacent roof panels. The bottom flange 36 of the I-beam is laterally enlarged and is formed with a downwardly opening elongated groove 48 for substantially its entire length. Due to this construction, a ceiling member 50 may be secured to the bottom of the roof panels and bottom flanges of the I-beams by means of self-tapping fasteners such as 52 threaded into the grooves cut in the bottom flanges of the I-beams. Due to the offset angular portion 30 of the roof panels, the bottom flanges of the I-beams may be positioned coplanar with the bottom surfaces 20 of the roof panels, and the ceiling member 50 may be secured flush up against the bottoms of said roof panels and the bottom flanges of said I-beams to form a solid insulation from the weather by eliminating any air spaces between the ceiling and roof. Further, no filler pieces are required to seal the ends of the roof between the beams and the ceiling. The awning so constructed is also substantially leakproof and no fastenings are necessary through the roof panels. Also, additional structural supports can be fastened to the beams through the grooves 48 without drilling holes into the roof skin.

With specific reference to FIGURE 7, it will be appreciated that the I-beams 33 which are of similar construction to that of 32 can be so constructed so as to be able to carry various roof loads by use of various shapes of beams without changing roof panels. For example, as shown in FIGURE 7, the flange 37 may be provided which would be capable of withstanding greater loads and therefore may have a longer span than the flange 36 inasmuch as it may be beefed up in accordance with the required design characteristics.

With specific reference to FIGURE 8, it will also be appreciated that the awning structure may be formed with a suspending ceiling 51. Fabricating this modified form of the invention, a twisted wire fastener such as 54 having a loop 56 at one end, may be driven through the ceiling wallboard 51 and secured between the head 58 of the threaded self-tapping fastener 52 and the bottom flange 37 of the I-beam 33.

The awning construction 10, see FIGURES 1 and 2,(

is adapted to be mounted between a first and second mounting bracket generally designated by the numerals 60 and 62, respectively. The bracket 62 generally comprises an elongated strip 64 which is adapted to be secured to the vertical building wall 12 by means of suitable fasteners such as indicated at 66. A transversely extending channel-shaped member 68 having a vertical web 69 and top and bottom flanges or legs 71 and 73 is adapted to be secured to one end of the awning structure by having its top leg portion 71 positioned over the top flanges 34 of the I-beams 32 and its bottom leg 73 beneath the bottom surfaces 20 of the roof panels and the bottom flanges 36 or 37 of the I-beams. Suitable fasteners such as 70 are adapted to attach the bottom surfaces 20 of the roof panels to the bottom leg of the channel 68 whereas threaded fasteners such as 75 threaded through the bottom leg of the channel and into the elongated groove 48 in the bottom flange of the I-beams may be used for securing the channel to said I-beams. The channel 68 may be connected to the strip 64 by means of a suitable pin and barrel hinge connection as generally shown by the numeral 72.

The mounting bracket 60, see FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, includes an upstanding lug such as 74 on top of each of the posts 14, 16. A yoke member of bifurcated bracket 76 is secured by means of fasteners such as 78 to each of the lugs 74. Each of the yokes 76 in turn is adapted to mount as by fasteners 79 an elongated trough 80 which forms a rain gutter. The trough 80 has a substantially horizontally extending flange 82 to which the roof panels 18 and the bottom flanges of the I-beams 32 or 33 may be secured by fasteners such as 84 and 52, respectively.

The top f the outer one of the end of walls of the trough is curled to form a lip 86. Said lip 86 forms a hinge for a fascia 88 which is adapted to pivot from the solid line to the broken line positions shown in FIGURE 2. In normal position a depending lug 90 on the fascia 88 is adapted to abut up against the top flanges 34 of the I-beams 32. The lug 90 acts as a stop and lines up the roof structure of the awning with the fascia and directly positions it before it is fastened into place. Due to the self-alignment feature, the awning structure is quickly and easily fabricated and put in place. Further, due to the fascia being swivelly mounted access to the interior of the trough 80 is readily available to allow cleaning out of any trash or debris which has accumulated therein without removal of the roof. Also due to the pivotable action of the fascia 8 8, access for easy mounting of the roof structure upon the mounting bracket 60 and the horizontal flange 82 is made readily available. No additional scaffolding is necessary for erecting the roof due to the ready access of the roof by pivoting the fascia to an out-of-the-way position or removing it altogether.

To complete the awning structure a suitable downspout 92 may be connected to the trough 80 in order to drain accumulated water and small debris therein. Further, depending side skirts 94 and 96 of channel shape may be secured to the outer sides of the last roofing panels to provide a compact and neat appearance.

Although the awning secured mounting bracket 62 is illustrated as attached to a vertical building wall 12 it is to be appreciated that it may alternatively be secured to any other suitable substantially vertical supporting surface. In addition, the first mounting brackets 60 can be carried by other supports than the posts 14 and 16.

Further by forming the I-beams 32 and 33 of greater strength and stiffness, the span of the awning roof between the brackets 69 and 62 may be increased without requiring any additional supports or transverse battens, purlins, or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a vertical support surface an awning structure comprising a pair of spaced supports, a first mounting bracket secured between said supports, a second mounting bracket secured to said support surface, a plurality of roof panels mounted upon and extending between said brackets in spaced side-by-side relation, adjacent roof panels terminating in oppositely extending lateral flanges, tying elements connecting adjacent roof panels, each of said tying elements including an I-beam having its top flange bent back beneath itself to form a pair of channels open-ing toward each other and separated by the web of said I-beams, the web of said I-bearn being positioned between adjanent roof panels and the oppositely extending lateral flange of said roof panels being received within said channels.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the bottom flange of each of said I-beams extends between and is coplanar With the bottom of said adjacent roof panels, an elongated groove in the lower surface of the bottom flange of each of said I-beams, and ceiling means securing to the bottoms of said roof panels and bottom flanges of said I-beams by means of fasteners secured in the grooves in the bottom flanges of said I-beams.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said ceiling means is secured flush against the bottoms of said roof panels and bottom flanges of said I-beams.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said ceiling means is suspended from said fasteners.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first mounting bracket carries a transverse trough portion constituting a rain gutter.

6. The combination of claim 5 including a fascia hinged to a wall of said trough, said fascia including a depending projection adapted to abut the top flanges of said I- beams.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second mounting bracket includes a channel member enclosing one end of said I beams and roof panels, the channel member being hingedly connected to said vertical support surface.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said first mounting bracket includes a transverse trough portion constituting a rain gutter.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a fascia hinged to a wall of said trough, said fascia including a depending projection adapted to abut the top flanges of said I-beams.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the bottom flange of each of said I-beams extends between and is coplanar with the bottom of said adjacent roof panels, an elongated groove in the bottom flange of each of said I-beams, and ceiling means secured to the bottoms of said roof panels and bottom flanges of said I-beams by fasteners secured in said grooves.

11. A beam for use as a structural element comprising a pair of vertically spaced one-piece horizontally extending flanges connected together by means of a single vertical web portion, the top flange being bent back under itelf to form a pair of channels opening toward each other and separated by said web portion and a centrally located elongated groove in the bottom flange thereof, each channel including a pair of vertical lugs and partially projecting across the space defined by said channels, said lugs being laterally spaced with respect to each other and one lug of each pair extending from each leg of said channel.

12. The combination of claim 1 including an elongated groove in the lower surface of the bottom flange of each of said I-beams and ceiling means secured .to the bottoms of said roof panels and bottom flanges by fasteners secured in said grooves.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said fasteners comprise self-tapping screws.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first mounting bracket carries a transverse trough portion constituting a rain gutter, a fascia hinged to a wall of said trough.

15. In combination with adjacent panel members having closely spaced flanges, a structural beam interconnecting said panel members comprising a web portion between said flanges, a connecting flange portion embracing the flanges of the panel members and a spacing flange portion abutting the panel members, said panel members and the spacing flange portion of the beam forming a flush surface, a ceiling panel and fastener means extending into the spacing flange portion of the beam for suspending the ceiling panel from the beam below the panel members.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said fastener means extends through the ceiling panel which is suspended in contact with said flush surface.

17. The combination of claim 15 including suspension means connected to the fastener means for suspending the ceiling panel in spaced relation below said flush surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,432,622 12/ 1947 Johnston 52729 X 3,028,938 4/1962 Schorr 52495 X 3,084,479 4/1963 Struben 5273 X 3,113,434 12/1963- Phillips et .al. 52-475 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,642 12/ 1960 Belgium.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

11. A BEAM FOR USE AS A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT COMPRISING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED ONE-PIECE HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING FLANGES CONNECTED TOGETHER BY MEANS OF A SINGLE VERTICAL WEB PORTION, THE TOP FLANGE BEING BENT BACK UNDER ITSELF TO FORM A PAIR OF CHANNELS OPENING TOWARD EACH OTHER AND SEPARATED BY SAID WEB PORTION AND A CENTRALLY LOCATED ELONGATED GROOVE IN THE BOTTOM FLANGE THEREOF, EACH CHANNEL INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICAL LUGS AND PARTIALLY PORJECTING ACROSS THE SPACE DEFINED BY SAID CHANNELS, SAID LUGS BEING LATERALLY SPACED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND ONE LUG OF EACH PAIR EXTENDING FROM EACH LEG OF SAID CHANNEL. 